Calendar Cars - Artist Trading Coins

Artist trading coins are all the rage right now in the mail art community, so I thought I'd jump in and make some myself.  At 2.5 inches in diameter, the coins are the same width as an artist trading card but not as tall and, of course, are round instead of rectangular.  I created these four coins for a swap with an open theme.  They're kind of a riff on the calendar car postcards I made a couple of months ago.

I started by adhering a road map to a piece of heavy cardstock, then used a Spellbinders Nestabilities circle die to cut four coins.  I used an old gift card to scrape on a thin layer of white acrylic paint, which mutes the background so it doesn't compete too much with the focal images.

After fussy cutting the cars, I selected vintage postage stamps to coordinate with each one.  Then I chose the stencil, which required some consideration due to the scale of these coins.  Achieving a good composition can be tricky when working on such a small piece, especially when it's round.  I settled on the Harlequin stencil by Tim Holtz and used distress inks to add the design to the background.

After adhering the cars, I stamped on some spatters and the text, added the postage stamps, then stamped on two types of faux postage cancellation marks:  the wavy lines in gray and the round mark in red.

The "Fig. #" images are rub-ons that were the perfect size for these coins, and they helped to ground the cars so they don't look like they're floating in space.  The final step on the front of the coins was sponging gathered twigs distress ink around the edges.

To finish the backs of the coins, I adhered patterned paper and a mini label with the name of the swap, my name, and the date.  I like my art pieces to have a clean back, and the additional layer of paper made the coins a little sturdier.

Other than working with the small scale of these coins, the biggest challenge for me was with the shape.  I've made a lot of really small collages, but most of them have been on substrates with straight edges. The curved edges of the coins was a new twist.  Have you tried making artist trading coins?  If so, what did you find most challenging about them?  And if not, what are you waiting for?!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day.

The Story Begins and Dream Deferred - Mini Moleskin Journal Pages

I thought I'd share with you a couple of art journal spreads that I completed in my mini Moleskin journal the last couple of months.  The mini Moleskin's dimensions are 3.5 x 5.5 inches, making a two-page spread 7 x 5 inches.

"The Story Begins"

This spread features a copy of a photograph from an old postcard, a map from the early 1900s (pulled from a small datebook about the same size as my mini Moleskin), a real cigar band, and some washi tape that looks like a cigar band.  The text came from one of those 1970s "Time-Life" history books and I thought it fit these two guys, who look like Trouble with a capital T.

"Dream Deferred"

This spread started with the poem by Langston Hughes and largely consists of newer papers.  The book text, sheet music, and red-border playing card are vintage.  I have not been lucky enough to find any vintage photos of African-Americans in the antique shops where I live, so I used this reproduction photo booth image by Tim Holtz.  1964 refers to the year that the Civil Rights Act was passed.

Thanks for dropping by.  Have a great day!

Certified Mail - Altered Rolodex Card

Late last night I was itching to create something.  I didn't want to start something too big or involved though, so I decided to make an altered rolodex card using only items found in my Misc Ephemera/Journal Fodder folder.  (More on that below.)

I started to dig through the folder and found the bird clipart first.  Because of its size and shape I grabbed a tabbed rolo from the stack of die-cuts that my friend Mel recently sent me (Thanks, Mellie!).  After adhering the birds, I searched through my file folder and selected the other pieces which include a scrap of German book text, part of an old atlas page, and an artist paper from Stampington.  The certified mail sticker is actually a piece of clipart from ArtChix Studio, and the egg is also a piece of clipart purchased on a sheet years ago from somewhere.  I outlined the mail sticker with a black Stabilo All Pencil and rubbed charcoal pencil around the egg.  I added the 'fly away' rub-on to the egg and sponged distress ink around the outer edges of the card.  I played around with adding some stenciling using white pigment ink, but decided I didn't like it and was able to remove it with a baby wipe.  At that point I figured I better just leave well enough alone.

Now, back to my "Misc Ephemera/Journal Fodder" folder.  This is just one of several hanging file folders that I created this winter as I did some major cleaning and organizing of my art supplies.  There's a little bit of everything in this folder, as you can see in this picture: wrapping paper, advertisements, food labels, clip art, and other small bits and bobs.  Additional file folders hold larger, full-sized pieces in categories such as book text-English, book text-Foreign, gelli prints, maps, photos, postcards, sheet music, etc.  These folders make it so easy to organize my ephemera, are a source of inspiration and, more importantly, help me FIND things later when I want them!  The project was time well spent.

Thank you for coming to my blog and for your wonderful comments.  Have a fabulous day!

Supplies:
Blank rolodex card; miscellaneous clip art and paper scraps; black Stabilo All Pencil; Derwent medium charcoal pencil; gathered twigs distress ink.

The Joys of Growing Your Own - Altered Envelope

For several years now we've had a small garden in our back yard.  Last year we grew tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and cabbage.  We also have a separate patch for rhubarb and last year we planted four red raspberry plants that are leafing out nicely this spring.  I just love having fresh produce throughout the summer, especially tomatoes.  You just can't beat home grown.  Since it's another month or so before we can even plant our tomatoes, I decided to make them the subject of my March altered envie.

An old gardening manual purchased at an auction was the source for the clipart I used.  Besides illustrations of a variety of plants and produce, the manual also included several reproductions of vintage advertisements, such as the one for Johnson Seed.  (Ol' Mr. Johnson probably bragged, "My seeds grow tomatoes bigger than your head!")  I started by making my own envelope out of a sheet of art paper that came in one of my Stampington magazines.  I stenciled on the flourishes using (what else?) potting soil ink.  Mr. Johnson and his giant tomato were fussy-cut and carefully adhered to the envelope.

For the address side, I adhered a cherry tomato image (wow--was that fun to fussy-cut!), and some text from the manual.  And luckily, I was able to coordinate the postage stamp with my design this month!  I love when that happens.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.

Stay Simple - Collage on Paneling Scrap *and* Best New Thing in the World

Before I share today's collage with you, I have to give you the backstory and tell you about the best new thing in my world.  We recently hired an electrician to install a new ceiling fan in the living room.  We also asked him to look at a ceiling light in the basement that has been acting up.  We've replaced it several times because the pull cords keep breaking off inside the fixture, and after the last time I just said "Forget it!" and have been screwing the bulb in and out every time I go into that room (which is every day).

So imagine the look on my face when the electrician asked whether we'd like that fixture wired to a switch.  What's this?  I could have a switch on the wall instead of burning my fingers on a hot bulb?  What a concept!  And since our basement ceiling isn't finished off, it was kind of an easy fix. Well of course we said YES.  And now I have my very own light switch that turns on both ceiling lights in the room I use to make my art!  I've been doing the happy dance for days.  Funny thing is though, I keep forgetting it's there!  At least three or four times I've walked into the middle of the room and reached up my arm to turn the light bulb.  Some days you just have to laugh at yourself.

After the electrician left, I had some dust and debris to clean up from installing the switch.  In the process, I found a small scrap of wood paneling from where he cut the hole in the wall.  I decided I needed to make something with that scrap, to sort of commemorate the occasion.  And so I created this magnet.

I don't know if you've ever dealt with 1960s wood paneling, but the stuff is as hard as nails.  It is not easy to cut which results in uneven, jagged edges.  So I left the uneven edges and just used a coarse emery board to scrape off any sharp bits.  I then stamped on the ticking stripe from Artistic Outpost using white acrylic paint (be sure to wash your stamp immediately if stamping with paint).  I used my fingers to smudge on various distress paints and stains around the edges.  My cute little guy, also from Artistic Outpost, was stamped on cardstock, colored with pencils, and fussy-cut before being applied with gel medium.  The word stickers are by Tim Holtz.  I used a black Stabilo All-Pencil to add some shading before sealing the front with acrylic spray sealant.

Thank you for stopping by.  I wish you a fabulous day.

Supplies:
Wood paneling scrap; stamps from Artistic Outpost; titanium white acrylic paint; Ranger Archival black ink; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; faded jeans and peeled paint distress paints; vintage photo and wild honey distress stains; vintage sheet music scrap; black Stabilo All-Pencil; Golden soft gel medium (matte); Tim Holtz word stickers; acrylic spray sealant.

The Fish That Ate Wales - Mail Art Postcard

I've had several pieces of mail art come in, so I better get cracking on sending some out!

This clip-art fish was the perfect size for a postcard.  I adhered him to a vintage map and added the bubbles using watercolor pencils and acrylic paint.  The sea-themed sentiments are from Red Lead Paperworks.

I'm usually not one for puns, but the title of this postcard basically wrote itself thanks to the map I chose at random.  It reminded me of a letter a friend wrote to me from college (many moons ago).  In that letter she told me that she was thinking of studying abroad in "Whales."  She misspelled Wales several times in her letter, and the thought of it still makes me smile.

Have a fabulous day!

Supplies:
4x6 index card; vintage geography book map; clip-art fish from a Stampington magazine; sentiment from Red Lead Paperworks; Ranger Archival black ink; faux post mark by Inkadinkado; black soot and tumbled glass distress ink; titanium white acrylic paint; Derwent watercolor pencils; naturals ivory cardstock from Stampin' Up; postcard image by Tim Holtz.

The Bird Sings - Mixed Media Postcards

I created two postcards last weekend but since they were going to folks who now read my blog, I waited until after they had been received to share them with you.  It's the two year anniversary of the "Envie Addicts Unite!" group, and I wanted to surprise the hostesses with a piece of mail art.  Not only do they do a phenomenal job of organizing the swap every month, but they keep the group going with lively conversation.  They have created a community of artists that is truly a pleasure to belong to, and I have had so much fun and learned so much in the few short months that I've been participating.

I was so happy with Marylee's birthday card that I decided to try to replicate the look for my postcards.  I started again with 140 pound watercolor paper, stencils and spray inks.  I wanted to try different colors though, which led to a happy discovery:  the Perfect Pearls Mists I had bought long ago and never found a good use for (especially the sunflower sparkle) were perfect for this project!  I'm not typically a glitter girl but I love the subtle color and shimmer that this spray ink gave to the postcard.

On the other side, I created a bright and festive collage featuring a cupcake by Inkadinkado with two candles (drawn by yours truly).  The postcards are 4.25 x 5.5 inches so they fit into the standard A2-sized clear envelopes that I already had.  I purchased mine from Stampin' Up but I'm sure there are other sources for them. 

Thanks for popping in!  Have a fabulous day.

Supplies:
Strathmore 140 lb cold press watercolor paper; Dylusions fresh lime ink spray; Ranger sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearl Mist; Ranger scattered straw, black soot, ripe persimmon, spun sugar, dusty concord and seedless preserves distress inks; Heidi Swapp stencils; Tim Holtz stencil; Tim Holtz patterned tissue paper; vintage sheet music; bird and sentiment stamps from Red Lead Paperworks; washi tape; Gelly Roll white pen; Adirondack black and white acrylic paint dabber; punchinella; splatter background stamp by All Night Media; Adirondack Archival jet black ink; Georgia Pacific white cardstock; Derwent white and lavender charcoal pencil.

Aviation Pioneer Amelia - ATC

This ATC is very similar to one I made in July for the library card catalog swap.  I decided to make a second one to trade with a different ATC group that I joined.  My plan is to make a companion card featuring Charles Lindbergh, to possibly make a 2:2 trade with someone.

The Amelia and aviation stamp are both from Artistic Outpost.  Amelia was colored with Prismacolor pencils and the rest is a combination of distress inks and acrylic paint.  I don't think this scan does the card justice (not on my computer, anyway).  Amelia's face actually has a lovely peach glow and her coat is a richer green.  Some colors are just harder to scan than others.

Thanks for popping in!  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Supplies:
Strathmore bristol vellum ATC blank; map from an old geography textbook; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; rubber stamps from Artistic Outpost; Ranger Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; white acrylic paint; wild honey, rusty hinge, barn door, crushed olive, frayed burlap, and vintage photo distress inks; splatter background stamp by All Night Media; scratched grid background stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms; Adirondack espresso acrylic paint dabber; Derwent peat and mustard tinted charcoal pencils; punchinella.

Monster Mash - Envelope Mail Art

My July altered envelope partner wrote in her profile that Halloween is one of her favorite holidays (which kind of surprised me, because she lives in Russia).  And even though it's the middle of summer, we're having an unusual cool spell with temperatures more akin to autumn. So a Halloween-themed envelope seemed appropriate and I hope it will be well received.

On the front I used this fabulous bat image by Oxford Impressions on what has become my signature background:  a mix of patterned paper, vintage book text, acrylic paint, distress inks, stamping and stenciling.  I added some eerie "found poetry" cut from my favorite 1920s novel.

On the back, I created a collage using stamps from Oxford Impressions, Artistic Outpost and Inadinkado.  I used a combination of Prismacolor Premier pencils and distress inks to color the images.

Here are closeup shots so you can see the artwork better.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.
 
Supplies:
Strathmore Bristol vellum paper; Golden gel medium; bat, bottle, bottle label and mortar/pestle images from Oxford Impressions; skull by Inkadinkado; prescription pad by Artistic Outpost; text stamps from Red Lead Paperworks; patterned paper by Authentique; vintage book text; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; Ranger Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; titanium white acrylic paint; Adirondack espresso acrylic paint dabber; punchinella; crackle background stamp (unknown); distress inks: dusty concord, antique linen, vintage photo, pumice stone, peeled paint, rusty hinge, wild honey; Derwent peat and lavender tinted charcoal pencils.

Tobaccoman's Log - ATC

This is my fourth and final ATC for the library card catalog swap.  The book title on this card was Leaves from a Tobaccoman's Log, so I searched my stamps for a guy who looked like he could be a tobacco baron.  I rather like these two fellows by Artistic Outpost so I decided to use them.  They look like they could have been in the tobacco-growing business back in the day.

Hank, on the left, is the serious older brother who has been groomed since childhood to take over the family business and who holds controlling interest.  But playful, younger brother Aaron has something Hank can never have:  the heart of Loretta Piedmont, daughter of their major competitor and heiress to her family's tobacco fortune.  Their young love is tested when Loretta's brother is found dead, and all of the clues seem to point toward Aaron as the murderer.  Don't miss this stunning new novel that pits brother against brother in business and in love during the turbulent decades following the Civil War. 

Sounds like a good romance novel, don't you think?  A real page turner!  (OK, so I won't quit my day job just yet.)

Initially I didn't want to include the part of the image that says coffee, but the composition was off if I didn't.  So perhaps if I ever do write that novel, my two brothers will be coffee farmers instead of tobacco growers.  But don't hold your breath.

Thanks for popping in!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC blank; library card catalog index card;  image from Artistic Outpost; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Ranger Archival black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; distress inks: scattered straw, wild honey, fired brick, vintage photo and brushed corduroy; titanium white acrylic paint; punchinella; Adirondack espresso acrylic paint dabber; splatter pattern stamp by All Night Media; burnt orange and peat tinted charcoal pencil by Derwent.

Enjine! Enjine! - ATC

This third card for my swap came together rather quickly since I had already chosen the focal image and wanted to use blue in the background.  I ended up blending several distress inks to get the shades I wanted (which is one reason I love the distress inks--they blend beautifully to create a whole range of colors).  I switched things up by making a card with a landscape orientation this time; it made a better composition.

Notice anything strange about the title of this post?  Yes, the spelling of engine.  It pained me to use it, but that is the way it is spelled on the library card catalog card.  And as proof, here's an image of the 1939 book available on Amazon!  I'm tempted to buy it because it sounds like it has some wonderful old illustrations of fire engines and other equipment.

Here it is Friday already.  Where does the time go?  Have a great weekend!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC blank; retired library card catalog index card; image from Artistic Outpost; Ranger Archival jet black ink; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; distress inks: vintage photo, bundled sage, broken china, tumbled glass, scattered straw, chipped sapphire, and brushed corduroy; titanium white acrylic paint; Adirondack espresso acrylic paint dabber; punchinella; splatter pattern stamp by All Night Media; peat and burnt orange tinted charcoal pencil.

Amelia Earhart - ATC

Upon reflection, I decided I didn't really like the second ATC I made for the library card catalog swap (see post here).  I mean, it's OK, but it's not my best work and I always try to submit only my best work for a swap.  So I switched back to the style of the first card that I made, and am much happier with the results.

The basis for this card was a 1930s book on recreation for girls.  I wonder if it included a chapter on aviation, since this was the decade that Amelia Earhart made headlines by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.  My guess is the book probably focused on tamer activities, such as lawn tennis or synchronized swimming.

Set your sights high and have a great day!

Supplies:
ATC cardstock blank; library card catalog card; images from Artistic Outpost; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Ranger Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; white acrylic paint; wild honey, crushed olive, and vintage photo distress ink; peat charcoal pencil; Adirondack espresso and snow cap acrylic paint dabbers; punchinella; splatter pattern stamp by All Night Media; Stazon timber brown ink.

Genuine Blue Butterfly and Sweet Poppy - Altered Dominoes

Quite a while ago I bought a cheap box of dominoes at a discount store.  I decided this was the week to try altering a few.  (I've altered some vintage wooden ones, which you can see here and here; but never any of the newer plastic ones.)  I have a few rubber stamps sized specifically for dominoes, so I started there but didn't like the results I was getting when I tried to color the images.  So I just covered up my experiments with collages.

The butterfly is a rub-on over vintage sheet music.  I added a stamped postal mark and word sticker and painted the sides with gold acrylic paint before sealing everything with glossy spray sealant.  The final step was to coat the entire top with Glossy Accents.

The poppy was stamped on cardstock, colored with pencils, and trimmed closely before being adhered over vintage Czech text that had been colored with distress inks.  I used a Krylon gold leaf pen to paint the sides, then sealed everything with glossy spray sealant.  To give the poppy added dimension, I gave just the flower and the word sticker a coat of Glossy Accents.

I think both of these dominoes will become magnets.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend.

Supplies:
Plastic dominoes; Golden soft gel medium (gloss); vintage sheet music and book text; white acrylic paint; picked preserves and vintage photo distress ink; butterfly rub-on from Seven Gypsies; poppy stamp from Oxford Impressions; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; postal cancellation stamp by Hero Arts; Ranger Archival black ink; word stickers by Tim Holtz; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; Adirondack gold acrylic paint dabber; Krylon gold leaf pen; peat charcoal pencil; glossy acrylic spray sealant; Glossy Accents.

Be Silly - Moo Magnets

Here are two more moo cards that I plan to make into magnets and send as RAKs (random acts of kindness).  The moo size is so much fun and it's a great way to use up all the small scraps of paper I have.

Have a fabulous day!

Supplies:
140 lb watercolor paper; patterned paper, vintage sheet music, and cardstock scraps; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Ranger Archival black ink; focal image and sentiment by Artistic Outpost; antique crackle background stamp by Stampin' Up; saddle brown Stazon ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; white acrylic paint; picked raspberry distress ink; Adirondack espresso acrylic paint dabber; peat charcoal pencil; Plaid matte acrylic spray sealant.

Dare To Live - Altered Envelope Mail Art

It's time to mail off another altered envie--how time flies!  My partner this month lives in the Netherlands and her interests are quite different from mine:  cats, vampires, Lord of the Rings...not exactly subjects I gravitate toward.  Thankfully, our envelopes are "artist's choice."  Since I look forward to receiving something different from what I myself create, I figure (I hope) that my partners feel the same.  

Front of envelope

I started by making my own #10 envelope out of 140 pound watercolor paper.  I stamped the frame to preserve a white area for the address.  Then I loosely brushed on yellow, green, and turquoise watercolor paints, laid plastic wrap on top, and pressed down until the paint was mostly dry.  This created a wonderful shattered glass pattern.

Back of envelope

I selected a couple of focal images and sentiments from Artistic Outpost and went to town creating a mixed media collage around them.  I used almost every weapon in my arsenal:  rubber stamps, colored pencils, stenciling, vintage text and sheet music, washi tape, rub-ons, acrylic paint, distress inks, gesso, tissue paper, you name it.  What a wonderful way to spend an evening!

Closeup of front

Thanks for stopping in!  Have a great weekend.

Supplies:
Strathmore 140 lb watercolor paper; Schmincke Horadam watercolor paints; plastic wrap; frame stamp by Hampton Art Stamps; Stazon black and dove gray ink; picked raspberry, salty ocean, and vintage photo Distress Ink; vintage book text and sheet music; washi tape; women and sentiment stamps from Artistic Outpost; Prismacolor Premier pencils; white tissue paper; Art and flower stamps by Wendy Vecchi; Tim Holtz tissue tape butterflies; white acrylic paint; rub-ons by 7 Gypsies; punchinella; Adirondack black and silver acrylic paint dabber; corner rounder punch; soft gel medium.

Twirling Swirling Whirling - Art Journal Page

I created this art journal page using a bunch of paper scraps left over from previous projects and a variety of wet media including acrylic paint, Gelatos, and artist pens.  I didn't know where I was going with this page when I started, so I just played it fast and loose.  That's always a challenge for me.  I really like how the background swirls turned out.  I layered red Gelatos with white acrylic paint, added some doodles in black, and finished with wild swirls of shiny gold.

Thank goodness this cold, snowy February is almost over.  Come on spring!
 
Supplies:
Strathmore 5.5 x 8 inch Visual Journal with 140 lb watercolor paper; patterned papers by My Mind's Eye; floral notecard of handmade paper; Liquitex white, raw umber, and naples yellow hue acrylic paint; Sharpie red and black paint pens; Faber-Castell black and gold Pitt artist pens; Gelatos, Niji waterbrushes.

My Heart is Like a Singing Bird - Altered Envelope Mail Art

I decided it was time to try something new, so I signed up to participate in an altered envelope mail art swap. I need to get my creative juices flowing again, and I like the fact that we swap directly with only one person each month.

I started with a real envelope and wanted to give a nod to Valentine's Day without being obvious.  I covered the envelope with torn vintage text and patterned papers, then layered on colored inks and acrylic paints using a dry brush technique, stencils, punchinella, and stamping. For the front of the envelope, I die-cut a heart from sheet music and then added one of my favorite bird images from Artistic Outpost, colored with Prismacolor Premier pencils.  The sentiment is from Red Lead Paperworks.

On the back of the envelope, I added a bird and sentiment from Oxford Impressions. Once the envelope had dried and been pressed, I applied two coats of glossy sealant.  Our envelopes are to be mailed "bare," meaning not inserted into another envelope, so I'm anxious to see how it holds up in the post.  It has to go all the way to California, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it arrives unscathed.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.

Supplies:
Envelope (4.75 x 6.5); vintage Czech book text; patterned papers by Authentique; Golden soft gel medium; white acrylic paint; Adirondack white and silver acrylic paint dabber; Adirondack frayed burlap and espresso acrylic paint dabber; heart die Nestabilities by Spellbinders; bird on twig image from Artistic Outpost; heart sentiment from Red Lead Paperworks; small bird image and flying sentiment from Oxford Impressions; very vanilla cardstock; Ranger Archival black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; punchinella (sequin waste); hexagon and heart stencils by Heidi Swapp; festive berries, vintage photo and pumice stone distress ink; plastic lids and rings for stamping circles; charcoal pencil; Plaid gloss acrylic spray sealant.

E.E. Forrest, Druggist - 4x4

Here's another 4x4 chunky with the theme haunted Halloween.  It has so many details and loads of texture.  And this chunky even involved FIRE!  I lightly singed the edges of the prescription pad in a couple of places.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Medium weight 4x4 chipboard coaster; vintage book text; patterned paper by Authentique; white acrylic paint; crackle background stamp (unknown vendor); Stazon black ink; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Ranger picket fence distress crackle paint; peeled paint, antique linen, vintage photo, and black soot distress ink; rubber stamps: Hero Arts (skull), prescription pad (Artistic Outpost), bottle, label and mortar/pestle (Oxford Impressions); Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; dark charcoal pencil; clear embossing powder; Glossy Accents; Crackle Accents; Adirondack black acrylic paint dabber; soft gel medium.

With a Flutter at the Heart - ATC

I've enjoyed my recent "roll" making moo cards, but frankly, I was ready to get back to making larger pieces of art.  I decided to start by making  a quick ATC using some scraps and ephemera that have been on my desk for a while now.

The three main elements of this card include a row of cancelled postage stamps from the 1920s (that miraculously were still connected to one another), a Crossword Lexicon game card with the middle cut out, and a clipart butterfly.  I adhered them to a collaged background of vintage book text and sheet music, and then brought everything together with some white gesso, distress inks, acrylic paint, and charcoal pencil.  The found poetry is from a 1911 school book.

Have a fabulous day!

Supplies:
ATC blank; vintage sheet music and book text; white acrylic paint; vintage Crossword Lexicon game card; vintage postage stamps; butterfly clipart; punchinella (sequin waste); white gesso; tumbled glass and peeled paint distress inks; Adirondack snow cap and espresso acrylic paint dabbers; Ranger frayed burlap and vintage photo distress paints; old plastic hair rollers (to stamp circles with); Golden gel medium; charcoal pencils.

On the Fence - Moo

This is the final moo for the swap I'm participating in.  I'll be happy to get these into the mail today, but then there's the long wait to receive my returns (the swap deadline is September 12).

Once again I started with a bingo card that had been dry brushed with white acrylic paint and stamped with a blue ticking stripe and brown splatter.  I colored the cute little guy from Artistic Outpost with Prismacolor pencils and distress inks.  Due to spacing issues and for added interest, I added some vintage text along the bottom.  The edges of the card were finished by dabbing on some espresso acrylic paint.

Here are my three bingo card boys together.

Have a fabulous day!

Supplies:
140 lb watercolor paper; bingo card; sandpaper; white acrylic paint; ticking stripe image and little boy from Artistic Outpost; splatter stamp by All Night Media; Stazon black and saddle brown inks; very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; weathered wood and antique linen distress inks; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; vintage book text; charcoal pencil; Adirondack espresso acrylic paint dabber.